Deformation of Asia and the formation of the
Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau

(to run animation, drag mouse across
image)

90 million years ago India rifted away from Madagascar and began its rapid
movement northward, ultimately colliding with Asia between 55-50 million years ago.
During the late Cretaceous (80 - 65 mya), India was moving at rates of more than 15
cm/year. No modern plate moves that fast. India's northward race towards Asia
may be something of a plate tectonic speed record. The reason it moved so quickly
was because it was attached to a large oceanic slab of lithosphere that was subducting
beneath the southern margin of Asia.

As India moved northward a string of islands were created along its
southeastern trailing edge. These islands form the 90 E Ridge and were generated at
the Kerguelen hotspot (just southwest of Australia).

After India collided, Australia was released from Antarctica and it began
to move northward towards S. E. Asia. Australia is currently in collision with Asia.
In the future we can expect Australia to continue moving northward, rotating
counter-clockwise as it swings past Borneo and arrives at China's doorstep.

The multi-colored pattern in the ocean represents the age of the
oceanfloor. The symmetric pattern is the result of seafloor spreading. Red is the
youngest ocean floor.

This animation is available on CD-ROM in Quicktime format. For more
information see Teaching Materials.

The maps in this animation were produced by the program PGIS/Mac written
by Malcolm Ross (for more information see Software)

This page uses a java applet that displays a VR model. Visit FreedomVR
at www.honeylocust.com/vr/ for more
information about this applet.